Key facts
- Westminster Council has maintained restrictions on vertical drinking and a ban on new bars in Soho.
- London Mayor Sadiq Khan criticized the council's policy, calling it "breathtaking arrogance" and urging them to allow vertical drinking.
- 81% of respondents to a consultation disagreed with the council's "cumulative impact zone" for the West End.
- 84% of respondents stated the licensing policy would be bad for business.
- The council's revised policy encourages seating and table service over open bar space for high-volume vertical drinking.
Westminster Council is proceeding with its controversial licensing policy that restricts "vertical drinking" and limits new bars in Soho, despite strong opposition from pub owners and the Mayor of London.
Tim Martin, the boss of pub chain Wetherspoon, has criticized the council's "barmy" curbs, stating they are "inhibiting business." London Mayor Sadiq Khan has also voiced his disapproval, calling the council's actions "breathtaking arrogance" and accusing them of "ignoring" the public's response to a consultation. The vast majority of respondents, 81%, disagreed with the council's "cumulative impact zone," which effectively bans new bars and pubs in the West End unless under exceptional circumstances. Eighty-four percent of respondents believed the policy would harm businesses.
The council's proposed policy encouraged venues to prioritize seating and table service over "open bar space that caters for high-volume vertical drinking." Despite Khan ordering the council to scrap the cumulative impact zone and allow vertical drinking, Westminster Council has maintained its stance. Deputy leader Tim Barnes stated the issue was a policing one, citing a lack of investment in policing as a drag on the hospitality industry.
Data indicates a significant drop in pub and wine bar applications in Westminster, down 80% in 2022-24, with only 3.5% of licensing applications approved as submitted between 2023 and 2026. The Soho Society, a local residents' group, has disputed claims that it opposes all new licenses, stating its opposition is reserved for applications that would profoundly impact the area's ability to live in or its character.